Principal Coaches Meeting

Lilian Chastain and Cindy O’Brien participate in an interactive exercise during the first Principal Coaches meeting of the year. The meeting allowed the coaches to process and share the value of being a compassionate leader.

The CFISD Principal Coaches, consisting of retired district principals, met for the first time this year on Sept. 11. This marks the fifth year for the program and training sessions to take place.

The interactive meeting allowed the coaches, who mentor current district principals, to process and share with each other the value of being a compassionate leader.

“The training was based on a book by John Hoyle titled Leadership and the Force of Love,” said Donna Guthrie, assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction. “The lesson learned is that you will gain more from your employees if they feel they are valued as individuals.”

The Principal Coaches meetings will be held two to three times throughout the 2014-2015 school year. The Principal Coaches roster is made up of:

• Sharon Barnes; 
• Dr. Robert Borneman; 
• Lillian Chastain; 
• Dr. Debbie Emery; 
• Phyllis Hamilton; 
• Janet Hoover; 
• Dr. Cheryl Johns; 
• Cathy Jones; 
• Cindy O’Brien; 
• Betty Rennell; 
• Suzanne Thompson; and 
• Anne Wilcox.

Associate superintendent for school administration and leadership development Roy Garcia observes as Principal Coaches meeting participants (L-R) Suzanne Thompson, Dr. Debbie Emery and Sharon Barnes write descriptors for the acronym “COACH.”